I have a feeling a lot of belts will be tightening 🫩 Discuss your strategies here.

  • melbaboutown@aussie.zoneOP
    4·
    12 days ago

    Pet products and food are jumping up so high.

    I was waiting on some good value generic brand flea drops to come back in stock (Aristopet) but they’re now no longer listed and other sites are gouging. Found something at a similar price point with the same ingredients (Neovet) on a budget pet site but I’m unfamiliar with the brand.

    I can ask for the expired free ones if needed but trying not to until necessary.

    Aldi isn’t good on food for me but I may try and get there for cheaper cleaning products. So annoyed that their face sunscreen is bad

  • hitmyspot@aussie.zone
    3·
    13 days ago

    I’ve topped up on some clothes. Lots of clearance sales currently with extra reductions above sale price. Cost of living has probably reduced sales of goods, so they need to clear stock. Myer has lots of homewares for 2 to 5 dollars that is usually much more, but it’s in store only.

      • hitmyspot@aussie.zone
        2·
        12 days ago

        Well, that’s how the rate rises are supposed to work. Squeeze people and business tighter until some people suffer and demand goes down. What a lot of people don’t say is that if you go through a recession, but keep your job, you end up better off, as you’ve been ok and all the prices come down. Scary while it happens though.

        • melbaboutown@aussie.zoneOP
          2·
          12 days ago

          Especially scary for the people who don’t make it through 😥 And usually it’s those already better off financially that make it through and snap up the benefits that follow. Widening the divide.

          I’m hoping inflation is forced into check by people not being able to afford anything anymore but let’s be real… inequality is deepening and companies may still be able to coast off the ones who can

          • hitmyspot@aussie.zone
            2·
            11 days ago

            Yes. The problem for me is that they are purposely causing the pain of the few to prevent the pain of the many. Surely we can have better ways to manage the economy than force people to lose jobs and be unable to afford food.

            • melbaboutown@aussie.zoneOP
              2·
              11 days ago

              Surely. But it seems this is what we’re going with :(

              I try to help the best I can but am not well off myself

  • Seagoon_@aussie.zone
    3·
    13 days ago

    I’m buying stocks of good quality clothes and shoes for me and fam before prices go up, before they are unavailable, before an economic depression

    classics only

    I’m getting some large supplies of European foods like olives and oil , there has been a drought there and prices will go up

    • melbaboutown@aussie.zoneOP
      2·
      12 days ago

      That’s smart. I didn’t buy new clothes in so long thinking I was being thrifty but now they’re getting old I’m about to get Sam Vimes’ed so hard.

      And the op shops are filling with fast fashion

  • melbaboutown@aussie.zoneOP
    2·
    12 days ago

    Normally I’m pretty frugal but it’s looking like I may have to go even harder on that. To the extent of buying and using things I normally wouldn’t want to.

    Picking over Aldi’s options again.

    I’m checking out the Aldi cat food, especially the dry. It’s a good price but could be rubbish :/

    Looking if they have a different face sunscreen or spf moisturiser to the really shit Ombré one… as spf tends to be the only thing I use other than the basics. But no dice. I could try to use the actual general purpose sunscreen but risk my skin reacting. I’ll also be hawking the supermarket specials.

    They don’t seem to have a thinner pump lotion either, just a Cerave tub knockoff that isn’t much cheaper than the original. And I don’t like the tub Cerave. I still have some of that from before all this so I guess I’ll just have to finish it. Then move to a cheap unscented body lotion. Not really a generic at Aldi either and sorbolene (the obvious choice) burns my face.

    I don’t like their shampoos. Many have silicones which make my hair both brittle and greasy, and one was so highly scented it burnt my scalp. The Frutia might be a go for general purpose but I’m having a hard time finding out the ingredients. I’m also not seeing a generic option for anti-dandruff shampoo.

    Their soap bars are all highly scented other than the Trimat goats milk soap but I’ve found that is a lot more drying and itchy than it used to be. I think something changed.

    I haven’t seen generic peanut butter options which sucks. Or generic lollies. Colesworth are both so much better on having generics.

    Disinfectant sprays, wipes and solutions will be bought if cheaper than the others.

    I usually get the Trimat laundry sauce but could get their dirt cheap laundry detergent instead… however it would be rougher on my clothes and wear them out faster, especially as I’m doing laundry a lot more frequently.

    I already use a number of Aldi products so it’s a shame they don’t suit me on everything.

    Regretting getting rid of an old hoodie and some jeans that would have been really good to have as ‘grubbies’ during this time. I think I’m gonna hit up the mending basket to reclaim some of the things in there.

    I also need to sew the broken strap back onto my backpack (those have gone up from $20 to $40 at Kmarget) and patch my favourite comforter.

    I can knit and crochet and sew so simple clothing from scratch isn’t impossible. But I’m not confident in my ability to make garments that look good and fit… can’t concentrate for the life of me… and quality materials are expensive.